UPDATE 1-Wienerberger Q2 profit beats forecast on cost cuts

* Q2 EBITDA 100.9 mln eur vs 91.6 mln forecast

* Revenue up in U.S., western Europe; down in E.Europe

* Cost cuts help earnings; pressure on prices weighs

(Adds detail, background)

VIENNA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The world's largest brickmaker Wienerberger (WBSV.VI) raised core earnings by 20 percent in the second quarter as residential construction picked up in Germany and the United States, and cost cuts helped.

Second-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to 100.9 million euros, beating even the most optimistic forecast in a Reuters poll of analysts which averaged 91.6 million euros. [ID:nLDE67C19X]

Wienerberger was hit hard by the economic crisis last year because it is almost entirely geared to residential construction and had little to gain from infrastructure spending lifted by government stimulus programmes.

However, Chief Executive Heimo Scheuch said that even though consumer confidence was still low, he expected second-quarter developments to continue during the rest of the year.

"The positive trend in most western European countries should go on," he said in a statement. "In eastern Europe, I still expect a very restricted construction activity. For our U.S. business I expect a stable sales development."

Wienerberger shares have dropped 24 percent so far this year and closed at 9.70 euros on Monday, underperforming the Stoxx Construction and Materials index .SXOP, which has lost 12 percent this year. (Reporting by Boris Groendahl; Editing by Erica Billingham)